The 2012-13 edition of the Clemson Rowing media guide was written, edited, and designed by Davis Simpson. Special thanks to Chandler Carver, Jeff Kallin,
Philip Sikes and the Clemson rowing staff in the production of this guide. Photography by Kevin Bray, Rex Brown, Mark Crammer, Annemarie Jacques, Cayce
Joyce, Craig Mahaffey, Cathy Nance, Angie Rosillo, and Patrick Wright. Front cover by designed by Davis Simpson. Recruiting pages designed by Jeff Kallin.

Athletic Department Mission Statement
The Department of Athletics offers nationally prominent athletic programs. Through a dedicated commitment to educational interests, a competitive athletic
program, and integrity in all areas, the student-athletes, coaches, and staff strive to bring credit and recognition to Clemson University. The mission of the
Athletic Department is to sponsor a broad-based athletic program that provides educational and athletic opportunities for young men and women to grow, develop,
and serve the interests of Clemson University by complementing and enhancing its diversity and quality of life. Furthermore, the Athletic Department seeks to
be a source of pride for the citizens of the State of South Carolina and to be recognized as a nationally prominent program, through consistently high levels of
performance and accomplishment in athletic competitions. The Athletic Department strives to develop student-athletes academically and athletically with the
total commitment of aiding their efforts to graduate from Clemson University and advance to careers that will enable them to be productive members of society.
The Athletic Department will act in an ethical and honest manner, dedicated to compliance with all Federal, State, NCAA, Conference, and University rules and
regulations.

2013 CLEMSON ROWING
In 2012, the Clemson rowing team finished the season
ranked #20 and just missed making the NCAA Championships for
what would have been the fifth straight season. Heading into this
season, the Tigers are working even harder to get back to the NCAA
Championships in 2013.
“We finished 20th in the country last year, which wasn’t
where we wanted to be,” said Clemson Head Coach Robbie Tenenbaum. “I think the team has worked on just becoming more fit
and more technically focused. Our fitness has been able to carry
our speed down the racecourse but I think we have had a renewed
emphasis on our technique to propel us down the course. I think
the two have made a big difference and it is mostly coming from
our student-athletes. They are incredibly motivated, especially the
seniors, who want to make sure that they end their careers at the
NCAA Championships and they are not going to be denied.”
The Tigers competed in two regattas in the fall season,
where they recorded three first-places finishes in five races. That
success gave the team some confidence and momentum heading
into the spring.
“Fall was outstanding for us,” Tenenbaum said. “We did
some things differently this fall. We held everyone really accountable and to a higher standard and everyone responded really well.
We put some time standards on the rowing machine in order to be
allowed to travel and race and nobody wanted to be left out so everyone really stepped up.
“We had a great result at the Head of the Oklahoma and
beat a strong Stanford team, which gave everyone a big boost. Overall, we had a competitive fall season which gave everyone confidence and set everyone up to train harder throughout the fall and
into the winter.”
The 2012-13 version of the rowing team features 30 returning letterwinners with the addition of 31 newcomers to give the
Tiger team a good mix of youth and experience. Clemson also returns its entire coaching staff from last season. Tenenbaum returns
for his third season as head coach of the rowing program and fifth
season overall. Assistant Coaches Jessica Leidecker and Melanie
Onufrieff return for their third and second seasons respectively.
Returning second-team All-American and All-ACC rower
Heather Cummings and All-ACC rower Kate Biladeau are two of
nine seniors on the 2012-13 squad. The senior class also includes
Ameerah Aly, Katie Bruggeling, Vanesa Ewais, Kristin Manna, Emily
Massey, Sarah Monn and Caroline Thomas. They will look to make
their third appearance in the NCAA Championships in four years.
“Anytime you can have great leaders, especially at the top
of the program, it really helps. Right now, in the 1st Varsity 8,
we have a senior coxswain in Katie Bruggeling along with Heather
Cummings, Ameerah Aly and Kate Bildeau, which are all seniors. It
really helps to have that maturity level in the 1V8.”
The Tigers also have 11 juniors that will be counted on
in the varsity boats as well. All-ACC rower Laura Basadonna and
second-team All-American Laura D’Urso are two juniors that will
spend their third season in the 1st Varsity 8+. Along with Basadonna and D’Urso, Stephanie Cameron, Sarah Egan, Maria Jose
Gutierrez, Kelsey Igo, MJ Keys, Jackie Kovach, Kathleen Scibelli,
Meghan Sisk and Kathryn Wiley add depth to the varsity lineups.
The Tigers also have 12 sophomores on the 2012-13 squad that
will also compete for spots in the lineups.
From a lineup perspective, the Tigers return seven of eight
rowers and the coxswain in the 1st Varsity 8+ from last season. In
the 2nd Varsity 8+, six of the eight rowers and the coxswain return

4

Clemson Rowing

2013 Season Outlook
from the 2011-12 team. With so many returners, the competition
to claim spots in the top two boats is high.
“I think our team is a bit better this year,” said Tenenbaum. “We have more people fighting to get into the 1st Varsity 8
and we have never really had that before. We have had kind of a big
separation between the 1st Varsity 8 and our 2nd Varsity 8. Now,
we have a lot of people fighting to get into the 1V8 and the 2V8 and
I think that bodes well for us as we try to be more competitive at the
upper end.”
The Tigers will look to fill the Varsity 4+ boats with younger
talent this season. The 1st Varsity 4+ won an ACC Championship
last season but return only the coxswain from that crew.
“The Varsity 4’s are doing fine. We are working hard to
develop some of our younger student-athletes to race in that event.
Our novices are also doing a really great job this year and they have
been able to push the Varsity 4’s and help us stay competitive in
that event.”
The 2012-13 roster will also feature 13 international student-athletes from six different countries.
“It helps program tremendously to have these international student-athletes. They kids come in and have great experience.
They are coming so far to do this and they are highly motivated and
it helps the competitiveness of the team. It also helps create a good
atmosphere on the team because we have people from all over the
state, all over the country, and all over the world and that makes for
a unique and special dynamic.”
Clemson will face a schedule that features nine teams
that competed in the NCAA Championships in 2012. The Tigers
will open the season with three straight home regattas starting with
Duke and Eastern Michigan on March 9. The Tigers will then face
Boston University, Indiana, Purdue and Syracuse on March 16 and
Alabama and Marist on March 23, both on Lake Hartwell.
The Tigers will then go on the road for two straight regattas. Clemson will travel to Redwood Shores, California, on March
30 and 31 to take on California, Oregon State and Stanford. Two
weeks later, they will travel to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to face
Boston University, Darmouth and Yale on April 13. Clemson will
then host 19 teams in the Clemson Invite on Lake Hartwell on April
20 and 21.
“We are really excited about the upcoming season,” Tenenbaum said. “We have a lot of high quality opponents on our schedule. I think we race nine teams that were at were in the field of 16
at the NCAA Championships last season so we know we are going
to be challenged week in and week out. We are just excited to be
able to have the skill to put ourselves up against the top teams in
the country and give ourselves a chance.”
Clemson will then host the ACC Championships on Lake
Hartwell for the fourth straight year and the 11th time overall. In
2012, the Tigers finished second as a team and took an ACC Championship in the Varsity 4+ race.
“We just have a great place to row,” said Tenenbaum. “It’s
the best place to row in the conference. It’s only place in the ACC
where you can host a six-lane boat race. I think the other teams like
coming here as well because it is a very fair course no matter what
the conditions are. “
Following the ACC Championships, the Tigers will look to
earn a bid to the NCAA Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana
from May 31 to June 2. With their mix of experience and youth, the
Tiger rowing squad hopes to make yet another appearance in the
NCAA Championships.

2013 CLEMSON ROWING

Coaching Staff

ClemsonTigers.com

5

2013 CLEMSON ROWING

Robbie Tenenbaum

Robbie Tenenbaum is in his third full season as
head coach of the Clemson rowing team and his
fourth season overall. In his time as head coach
at Clemson, Tenenbaum has coached the 1st
Varsity 8+ that was named ACC Crew-of-the-Year
in 2011 and the 1st Varsity 4+ that won an ACC
Championship in 2012. Clemson also finished in
the top 15 of the NCAA Championships in his first
season as head coach in 2011.
During his tenure, the Tiger program has had two All-Americans,
five different first-team All-South Region rowers, and nine rowers named
to the All-ACC team. Clemson has also had at least six rowers named to
the Academic All-ACC team in each of his two seasons as the Tiger head
coach.
Before coming to Clemson in 2009, Tenenbaum spent two
seasons in Coral Gables, FL as the head women’s rowing coach at the
University of Miami. Prior to his stint at Miami, he was an assistant
coach at the University of Washington for the 2006-2007 season, where
he helped lead the Washington Huskies to a top-10 finish at the NCAA
Championships.
Tenenbaum was an assistant coach at Ohio State from
1998-2006 where he earned the Collegiate Rowing Coaches
Association’s (CRCA) award for Assistant Coach of the Year in 2006.
The prestigious award is designed to recognize an assistant coach who
had success during the recent season, while demonstrating great team
improvement from the prior season, fulfilling the team’s potential and
demonstrating a high level of professionalism and integrity as a coach.
He received back-to-back CRCA Central Region Assistant
Coach of the Year honors in 2005 and 2006.
Primary responsibilities for Tenenbaum at Ohio State included

Head Coach Robbie Tenenbaum
Head Coach • Third Season • Tampa ‘92
overseeing the Second Varsity 8+, recruiting, and assisting with the
varsity squad.
Under his instruction at Ohio State, the second varsity eight
finished fourth in the Grand Final in both the 2005 and 2006 NCAA
Championships. The Buckeyes second eight won both Grand Finals at
the 2006 Big Ten and Central Region Championships and had a sevenrace win streak during the regular season.
In 2005, the Second Varsity Eight also finished first at the
Big Ten Championships. Tenenbaum helped guide the Ohio State first
varsity four to a sixth-place finish at the 2004 NCAA Championships
and a fourth-place finish in 2003.
In addition to university coaching, Tenenbaum was an
assistant coach for the United States Junior National Rowing Team from
1996-2001. In 1996, his Junior Women’s eight took fourth at the World
Rowing Championships in Scotland; a year later, he was an assistant
coach for the Junior Women’s eight that finished third at the World
Rowing Championships in Belgium. In 1999, he was an assistant with
the Junior women’s eight that finished second in Bulgaria.
Tenenbaum assisted the Junior National Team during the
summers of 2000 and 2001 when the Junior Women’s four won gold
and silver medals in Croatia and Germany, respectively. Tenenbaum was
named the head coach for the U.S. Junior National team in October
2001. His junior women’s eight won a bronze medal in Lithuania in the
summer of 2002 and a silver medal at the Junior World Championships
in Athens, Greece in 2003. Tenenbaum has held head coaching positions
at Tulsa (1997-98), Florida Tech (1994-95), and with the Clemson
Club program (1993-94) as well as being the assistant women’s coach
at Tennessee from 1995-1997.
A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Tenenbaum earned a
marketing degree from Tampa in 1992.

The Tenenbaum File
Personal
Full name:....................................................... Robert Harlan Tenenbaum
Birthdate:........................................................................ April 22, 1965
Birthplace:........................................................................ Cleveland, OH
College:.......................................................... University of Tampa, 1992
Rowing Experience
University of Tampa...............................................1988-1992 (coxswain)
Coaching Experience
Clemson University, Head Coach.......................................... 2010-Present
Clemson University, Assistant Coach.......................................2009-2010
University of Miami, Head Coach............................................2007-2009
University of Washington, Assistant Coach...............................2006-2007
Ohio State University, Assistant Coach.....................................1998-2006
US Junior National Team, Head Coach.....................................2001-2003
US Junior National Team, Assistant Coach..............................1996-2001
University of Tulsa, Head Women’s Coach...............................1997-1998
University of Tennessee, Assistant Coach.................................1995-1997
Florida Tech, Head Women’s Coach.........................................1994-1995
Clemson Club Rowing, Head Coach.........................................1993-1994

6

Clemson Rowing

Assistant Coaches

Jessica Leidecker

Jessica Leidecker is in her third season
as an assistant coach with the Tigers. Leidecker
came to the Clemson coaching staff after training
with the US national team. Leidecker is a 2009
graduate of Clemson where she was named first
and second team All-America and helped Clemson
win their first ACC Rowing Championship in school
history.
Leidecker was also a member of the first Clemson crew to
advance to the NCAA Rowing Championships in 2008 and assisted

2013 CLEMSON ROWING
Assistant Coach • Third Season • Clemson ‘09
Clemson to a #12 ranking in the USRowing/CRCA Women’s Rowing poll
during the 2008 season. In 2009, she was a member of the Varsity 8+
crew that won an ACC Championship and was named ACC Crew of the
Year.
She was also a member of the Women’s 4- that placed fourth
at the U23 World Rowing Championships in Brandenburg, Germany.
The following year she stroked the U23 8+ boat that placed 2nd in the
Czech Republic.
The Westerville, Ohio native graduated from Clemson in 2009
with a degree in Animal Sciences.

Melanie Onufrieff is in her second season as
an assistant coach with the Tigers. Onufrieff came
to Clemson after spending the seven years as the
head women’s rowing coach at Columbia University. During her last two years with the Lions, Columbia achieved its first ever team national ranking,
finishing as high as 19th in 2010.
Prior to joining the staff at Columbia in
2005, she spent six years as the head women’s rowing coach at Cornell,
beginning in 1999. Her 2002 varsity eight was chosen for the NCAA
Championships, where it finished 14th. That performance, combined
with its regular-season and Sprints showings, earned Onufrieff MidAtlantic Region Coach of the Year honors from the CRCA.
Onufrieff spent two years as an assistant coach at Princeton
from 1997-1998. Her first novice eight took the silver medal at the
1997 Eastern Sprints. In 1998, the Tigers’ first novice eight won gold
at the Sprints. Once again, she was EAWRC Novice Coach of the Year.
Onufrieff began her full-time coaching career in 1995 at Rutgers as the novice women’s coach. Her first novice eight won a silver
medal at the Sprints and a bronze at the IRA Regatta. She was voted
the EAWRC Novie Coach of the Year.
Onufrieff spent the summers of 2001, 2006, 2007 and 2008
as an assistant coach with the United States National Rowing Team.
She was in charge of the silver medal winning 4- in 2008 at the Senior
World Rowing Championships in Linz, Austria and the Gold Medal winning Under 23 Women’s 4X in Strathclyde, Scotland in 2007.
A native of Berkeley, CA, Onufrieff was a three-year letter winner from the University of Pennsylvania. She was a two-year rowing captain, and was twice selected for the Hope Barnes Memorial Award for
Excellence in Rowing. She also twice earned selection to the Academic
All-Ivy League Team. Onufrieff graduated from Penn in 1994 with a
B.A. in biology.

Michelle Nance is in her second season as
a graduate assistant coach for the Clemson rowing program. Nance was a four-year letterwinner
as a rower at Clemson from 2006-2010. While at
Clemson, Nance was a three-time CRCA National
Scholar Athlete, a two-time Academic All-ACC selection, the Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate
Scholarship winner, and the 2009 ACC Scholar
Athlete-of-the-Year. She was also a member of the
2009 ACC Champion Varsity 8+, was a two-time All-ACC selection and
was named to the CRCA All-South Region first team in 2010.
Upon completing four years of rowing eligibility, Nance spent
a semester abroad in Alicante, Spain to fulfill degree requirements.
While studying at the Universidad de Alicante, Nance took classes with
university students and rowed with the university banco fijo rowing
team. In the spring of 2011, Nance intered for Vida Esperanza Salud, a
non-profit organization in the Patagonia region of Chile. Nance worked
in a school teaching and promoting healthy living, physical activity
and sports, life skills education, and English, while also working with a
Girl’s Home.

A native of Greenville, SC, Nance graduated from Clemson in
May 2011 with a degree in Language and International Trade.

2011-12: Rowed in the 2nd Varsity 8+ boat in all eight
regattas as a freshman…2nd Varsity 8+ finished second
at ACC Championships with her in the seven seat…rowed
in the five and six seats for the 2V8 against Northeastern
and Kansas respectively, which finished first in both…
part of the 2nd Varsity 8+ that recorded a time of 6:39.59
against Kansas, eighth best 2V8 time in school history.
Winter Park High School: Class of 2011 Valedictorian…
earned two varsity letters in rowing…2008 second place

2011-12: Rowed in the 1st Varsity 8+ in seven regattas…part of the 1st Varsity 8+ that recorded a time of
6:26.08 against Kansas, 10th best time in school history…named ACC Crew-of-the-Week for that performance…
rowed with the 2nd Varsity 8+ crew in one regatta…rowed
in the seven seat in the 1V8 that finished second at the
ACC Championships.
2010-11: Rowed with the 1st Varsity 8+ for the first
three regattas…spent the last five regattas with the 2nd
Varsity 8+…rowed the six seat for the 2nd Varsity 8+ that
finished second at the ACC Championships…rowed the six seat for the 2V8 that
finished second at the Oak Ridge Regional…rowed the six seat for the 2nd Varsity 8+ that finished 15th in the NCAA Championship with a time of 6:34.91…
that time ranks as third-best 2V8 time in school history.

Laura Basadonna

2011-12: Named All-ACC and Academic All-ACC, one of
three Tigers to earn both honors…second-team All-South
Region selection…spent the entire season with the 1st
Varsity 8+ crew that finished first in five races…rowed
in four different seats throughout the season…rowed the
five seat in the 1st Varsity 8+ that finished second at
the ACC Championships…part of the 1st Varsity 8+ that
recorded a time of 6:26.08 against Kansas, 10th best
time in school history…named ACC Crew-of-the-Week for
that performance.
2010-11: Rowed with the 2nd Varsity 8+ in seven of eight regattas…rowed with
the 1st Varsity 4+ in the first regatta of the season…recorded four first-place finishes throughout the season…rowed the two seat of the 2nd Varsity 8+ that came
in second at the ACC Championships with a time of 6:40.8, tenth best 2V8 time
in school history…rowed the two seat of the 2V8 that came in second at the Oak
Ridge Regional…rowed the two seat for the 2nd Varsity 8+ that finished 15th at
the NCAA Championships.
2009-10: Rowed with the 1st Novice 8+ in four regattas and the 2nd Varsity 8+
for three…recorded four first-place finishes with the 1st Novice 8+…rowed in the
seven seat of the 1st Novice 8+ boat that finished second at the ACC Championships...rowed at bow of the 2nd Varsity 8+ that finished fifth at the South/Central
Sprints...rowed in the seven seat of the 2nd Varsity 8+ that finished 16th at the
NCAA Championships.

12

Clemson Rowing

2009-10: Rowed with the 1st Varsity 8+ in three regattas, the 2nd Varsity 8+
in two regattas and the 1st Novice 8+ in two regattas…started the season with
three straight first-place finishes between two different crews…rowed in the six
seat of the Novice 8+ boat that finished second at the ACC Championships...
rowed in the six seat of the 2nd Varsity 8+ that finished fifth at the South/Central Sprints...rowed in the six seat of the 2V8 that finished 16th at the NCAA
Championships.
Lake Brantley High School: Served as team captain...two-time winner of the
hammer award...also won the coach’s achievement award in 2006...finished
third in the state with the third varsity 8+...attended the US Rowing Junior National Development camp in the summer of 2008...earned three varsity letters
in rowing.
Personal: Born July 15, 1991...majoring in health promotion and education.

2011-12: Named to the All-ACC Academic team...named
a CRCA National Scholar-Athlete...spent the entire season with 1st Varsity 8+ crew that finished first or second
in eight of 12 races...rowed the two seat in the 1st Varsity 8+ that finished second at the ACC Championships…
part of the 1st Varsity 8+ that recorded a time of 6:26.08
against Kansas, 10th best time in school history…named
ACC Crew-of-the-Week for that performance.
Summer 2011: Won a silver medal for Italy in the Women’s Four at the World Rowing U23 Championships.
2010-11: All-ACC and Academic All-ACC selection…member of the 1st Varsity
8+ that was named ACC Crew-of-the-Year…rowed in every regatta with the 1st
Varsity 8+ as a freshman…rowed the seven seat for the 1V8 that defeated #12
Michigan and #7 Ohio State at the ACC/Big Ten challenge…rowed the seven seat
for the 1V8 that finished second at the ACC Championships…rowed the seven

Kate Biladeau

State Championship Freshman 8+…fifth place Stotesbury Cup Regatta Freshman 8+…2009 third place State Championship Varsity 8+…2010 second place
State Championship Varsity 8+…sixth place Stotesbury Cup Regatta Varsity 8+…
fifth place Scholastic National Championship Regatta Varsity 8+…2011 second
place State Championship Varsity 8+…third place Stotesbury Cup Regatta Varsity 8+…first place Petite Finals Scholastic National Championship Varsity 8+.
Personal: Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll for 2012...born January 10,
1993...majoring in wildlife biology.

seat for the 1st Varsity 8 that finished second at the Oak Ridge Regional…rowed
the seven seat for the 1st Varsity 8 that finished 15th at the NCAA Championships.
Italian National Rowing Team: 2010 Under 23 Italian National Champion in
the Women’s 4-...seventh place at the Under 23 World Rowing Championships
in 2010 in Brest Belarus in the Women’s 4-...2009 Under 23 Italian National Champion in the Women’s 4- and Women’s 2-...fourth place at the Junior
World Rowing Championships in 2009 in Brive-la-Galliarde, France in the Junior
Women’s 2-...2008 Under 23 Italian National Champion in the Women’s 4-...
silver Medal at the Junior World Rowing Championships in 2008 in Ottensheim,
Austria in the Junior Women’s 4-...2008 junior National Champion in the Junior
Women’s 4- Fifth place at the Junior World Rowing Championships in Beijing,
China in 2007 in the Junior Women’s 4-.
Personal: Two-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll...born October 20,
1991…majoring in economics.

Senior • Lutz, FL • Tampa Prep School • Marketing
Tampa Preparatory School: 2008 Florida Scholastic State Champion in the
women’s varsity 4...captain of the rowing team for the 2007-08 season...placed
fourth in the women’s junior double at the Head of the Hooch...placed in the
top 10 at the U.S. Rowing Club National Junior 8...earned four varsity letters
in rowing.
Personal: Two-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll…brother, Andrew,
ran track and cross country at the University of Virginia…born April 3, 1990...
majoring in engineering.

Summer 2012: Won two gold medals at Henley in Senior
Men’s Lightweight Eight and Dash.
2011-12: Academic All-ACC selection…named second-team All-South Region…coxed the 1st Varsity 8+
in 21 straight spring regattas from 2009-10 through
2011-12…coxed the 1st Varsity 8+ in every regatta in
2012…coxed the 1st Varsity 8+ to four straight firstplace finishes to start the spring season…coxed the 1st
Varsity 8+ to a second-place finish at the ACC Championships…part of the 1st Varsity 8+ that recorded a time of
6:26.08 against Kansas, 10th best time in school history…named ACC Crew-ofthe-Week for that performance.
Summer 2011: Won gold medal at Henley in Senior Men’s Lightweight Eight
Dash.
2010-11: Named second-team All-South Region…coxed the 1st Varsity 8+ in
all eight regattas…led the 1st Varsity 8+ to five straight first-place finishes…
coxed the 1V8 that defeated UCLA with a time of 6:25.0, which ranks seventh
in school history…coxed the 1st Varsity 8+ that defeated #12 Michigan and #7
Ohio State at the ACC/Big Ten challenge…coxed the 1st Varsity 8 that finished
second at the ACC Championships and was named ACC Crew-of-the-Year…coxed
the 1st Varsity 8+ that finished second at the Oak Ridge Regional…coxed the 1st

Varsity 8+ that finished 15th at the NCAA Championships.
Summer 2010: Won a gold medal at Henley in the Lightweight Men’s Eight
2010...invited to U23 National Selection Camp.
2009-10: Named second-team All-South Region…coxed the 1st Varsity 8+ in
seven of eight regattas…coxed the 2nd Varsity 8+ in the first regatta…coxed the
1st Varsity 8+ to a second place finish at the ACC Championships...coxed the
1V8 that finished third at the South/Central Sprints...coxed the 1st Varsity 8+ to
a 13th place finish at the NCAA Championships.
St. Francis Catholic Secondary School: Named St. Francis Senior Oarswoman of
the year in 2009...won a gold medal at the Henley in the Lightweight Men’s 8+
in 2009...also earned a gold medal in the Lightweight Men’s 8+ dash in 2009...
won a gold medal at the Head of the Charles in the Youth Men’s 4+ in 2008
and 2007...earned a bronze medal at Stotesbury in the Men’s Lightweight 8+ in
2008...won a silver medal at the Canadian Nationals in the Men’s Lightweight
8+ in 2008...also earned a bronze medal in 2008 at the Canadian Nationals with
the Men’s Lightweight 4+...invited to Row Ontario and JNT camps... placed in
the top five at Canadian Nationals five times...rowed with St. Catharines rowing
club.
Personal: Member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2012…born July 29,
1990…majoring in sociology.

2011-12: Rowed with the 1st Varsity 8+ in the first two
regattas, which finished first in both…joined the 2nd Varsity 8+ for the final six regattas of the season, including
five in the stroke seat…part of the 2nd Varsity 8+ that
recorded a time of 6:39.59 against Kansas, eighth best
2V8 time in school history…rowed the stroke seat for the
2nd Varsity 8+ that finished second at the ACC Championships.
2010-11: Rowed with the 1st Varsity 8+ in every regatta
as a freshman…rowed the bow seat of the 1st Varsity 8+

Fall 2012: Earned the Lisa Reid Most Inspirational Rower award.
2011-12: Named CRCA second-team All-American…
CRCA first-team All-South Region selection…All-ACC
selection…named to the Academic All-ACC team…spent
the entire season with the 1st Varsity 8+ crew that started
the season with four straight first-place finishes…rowed
the two seat in the 1st Varsity 8+ that finished second at
the ACC Championships…part of the 1st Varsity 8+ that
recorded a time of 6:26.08 against Kansas, 10th best
time in school history…named ACC Crew-of-the-Week for that performance.
2010-11: Second-team All-South Region selection…named Academic All-ACC…
member of the 1st Varsity 8+ that was named ACC Crew-of-the-Year…rowed with
the 1V8 for the entire season…started the season with five straight first-place
finishes…rowed the three seat for the 1st Varsity 8+ that defeated #12 Michigan
and #7 Ohio State at the ACC/Big Ten challenge…rowed the three seat for the
1st Varsity 8+ that finished second at the ACC Championships…rowed the three

Laura D’Urso

that defeated #12 Michigan and #7 Ohio State at the ACC/Big Ten challenge…
rowed the bow seat for the 1st Varsity 8+ that finished second at the ACC Championships and was named ACC Crew of the Year…rowed the bow seat for the 1st
Varsity 8+ that came in second at the Oak Ridge Regional…rowed the bow seat
of the 1st Varsity 8+ that finished 15th at the NCAA Championships.
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School: Rowed four years and was in the 1st
Varsity 8+ for three years...named All-Met Honorable Mention two years in a
row.
Personal: Member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2012…born April 27,
1992…majoring in economics.

seat for the 1V8 that finished second at the Oak Ridge Regional…rowed the three
seat for the 1st Varsity 8+ that finished 15th at the NCAA Championships.
2009-10: Rowed with the 1st Novice 8+ in two regattas while spending four
regattas in the 2nd Varsity 8+ as a freshman…rowed in the three seat of the 2nd
Varsity 8+ that finished second at the ACC Championships...rowed in the three
seat of the 2nd Varsity 4+ that finished third in the Open 4+ race at the South/
Central Sprints...rowed in the three seat of the 2nd Varsity 8+ that finished 16th
at the NCAA Championships.
First Colonial High School: Named MVP of the basketball team as a junior and
a senior...second-team all-district as a junior...first-team all-district and secondteam all-tidewater selection as a senior for basketball...named to the all-academic team as a junior and a senior...placed first in the Hampton Roads erg pull
in 2009...also placed first in the Mid-Atlantic erg sprints in 2009...earned four
varsity letters in basketball, two in volleyball and softball, and one in soccer.
Personal: Two-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll...sister, Brittany,
was an All-American rower at Clemson from 2007-10…born March 24, 1991…
majoring in pre-professional health studies.

2011-12: CRCA first-team All-South Region selection…
named Academic All-ACC…named one of three team
captains for the season…spent the entire season with the
1st Varsity 8+ crew that finished first in five races…rowed
in three different positions throughout the season…rowed
the four seat in the 1st Varsity 8+ that finished second at
the ACC Championships…part of the 1st Varsity 8+ that
recorded a time of 6:26.08 against Kansas, 10th best
time in school history…named ACC Crew-of-the-Week for
that performance.
Summer 2011: Won the Women’s Senior 1x race at the Irish National Championship with a time of 7:56.5.
2010-11: Second-team CRCA All-American…first-team All-South Region selection…named All-ACC…member of the 1st Varsity 8+ that was named ACC Crewof-the-Year…rowed with the 1st Varsity 8+ the entire season…stroked the 1st
Varsity 8+ that defeated #12 Michigan and #7 Ohio State at the ACC/Big Ten

challenge…stroked the 1st Varsity 8+ that finished second at the ACC Championships…stroked the 1st Varsity 8+ that came in second at the Oak Ridge
Regional…stroked the 1st Varsity 8+ that finished 15th at the NCAA Championships.
City of Derry Boating Club: Nine-year member of club (2003-2011)...participated in Irish National Championships in 2008 (1st place, Junior 2x), 2009
(1st place, Junior 2x) and 2010 (1st place, Senior 8+)...three-time participant
in Irish Indoor Championships (2006-2008)...five-time participant in British Indoor Championships (2003-2007)
Irish National Rowing Team: 2007 participant in World Coastal Rowing Championships (bronze medal in 4x)...2007 and 2008 participant in Coupe de la
Jeunesse (fifth and seventh place finish in the 1x in 2007; winner of two gold
medals in Junior 2x in 2008)...2009 Junior World Rowing Championships participant (4th place Junior Women’s 2x)
Personal: Member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2012…born March 4,
1991…majoring in food science.

2011-12: Spent the entire season with the 1st Varsity 8+
crew as a freshman…rowed in three different positions
throughout the season…rowed the three seat in the 1st
Varsity 8+ that finished second at the ACC Championships…part of the 1st Varsity 8+ that recorded a time of
6:26.08 against Kansas, 10th best time in school history…named ACC Crew-of-the-Week for that performance.
RPC South Rowing squad: Stroke seat in the U21 8+...
won gold at NZ Club Nationals...3 seat in the U21 4x...

2011-12: Rowed with three different crews during the
season…spent four regattas with the 3rd Varsity 4+…also
rowed in one regatta with the 2nd Varsity 4+ and one with
the 3rd Varsity 8+…rowed the two seat in the 3rd Varsity
8+ that finished first and second in two races at the UVA
Invitational.
2010-11: Stroked the Novice 4+ that came in 3rd in the
4’s race against Clemson and Charleston (WV)…stroked
the 2nd Varsity 4 (C) that defeated Purdue.

Vanesa Ewais

Capital Crew: Rowed all four years in high school and earned varsity letters in
three...served as a team captain as a senior...selected most improved rower in
2008...won the Head of the Port Regatta in Varsity 4+ in 2009...helped lead
team to place third fastest time in the Varsity 8+ at San Diego Crew Classic in
2009...qualified for grand finals in the Southwest Junior Regional Championships in the Varsity 8+ in 2009...winner of the Gauntlet Challenge...invited to
and participated in Cal Racing Camp in both 2008 and 2009...graduated from
Saint Francis College Preparatory School.
Personal: Born June 22, 1992.

2011-12: Spent the first five regattas with the 1st Varsity
4+…rowed with the 2nd Varsity 8+ for the last three regattas of the season…rowed the five seat in the 2nd Varsity 8+ that finished second in the ACC Championships…
rowed the stroke in the 1st Varsity 4+ that recorded four
straight first-place finishes to start the season.
2010-11: Rowed with a Varsity 4+ crew in three regattas
and spent one with the 3rd Varsity 8+ in one…rowed the
six seat for the 4th Varsity 8+ that defeated #12 Michigan and #7 Ohio State…rowed the four seat for the 3rd
Varsity 8+ that finished second at the Oak Ridge Regional.

Maria Jose Gutierrez

2011-12: Rowed with the 2nd Varsity 4+ in four regattas…spent the first two regattas with the 2nd Varsity 8+…
rowed in four different positions throughout the season…
finished first in one race with each crew…finished lower
than second just once.
2010-11: Rowed with the 2nd Varsity 8+ in the first four
regattas as a freshman…also spent three regattas in the
1st Varsity 4+…recorded three first-place finishes rowed
the bow seat for the 2nd Varsity 8+ that defeated #12
Michigan at the ACC/Big Ten challenge…rowed the three
seat for the 1st Varsity 4+ that defeated #18 Texas…rowed the three seat for the

Laura Haselden

placed second at NZ Club Nationals...rowed in the U21 2x that placed 3rd at
NZ Club Nationals.
Christchurch Girls’ High School: competed in South Island Secondary School
Championships...competed in South Island Club Championships...competed in
secondary schools Nationals...Won Gold in U18 4+, U18 4x, Silver U18 2+, U18
2x...first place in womens open 4+, 4x, 2x...bronze in U18 2+.
Personal: Member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2012…born October 10,
1992...majoring in architecture.

2009-10: Rowed with the 1st Novice 8+ in five regattas...rowed in the five seat
of the Novice 8+ boat in wins over Michigan and Ohio State at ACC/Big 10 Challenge...rowed in the six seat of the 1st Novice 8+ boat in wins over USC and
UCLA at SoCal Challenge...rowed in the five seat of the 1st Novice 8+ boat that
finished second at the ACC Championships.
Stanton College Preparatory High School: Helped lead rowing team to a state
championship in 2007...placed third at nationals with the Women’s Junior 4+
in 2007...helped lead team to city championships in the varsity 8+, varsity 4+
and doubles in 2007, 2008 and 2009...selected as the most improved rower
in 2006...earned the ergmaster award in 2009...served at team captain as a
senior...earned three varsity letters in rowing.
Personal: Born January 6, 1991…majoring in architecture.

Junior • Lima, Peru • Mater Purissima • Visual Arts
1V4 that came in second at the ACC Championships…rowed the three seat for
the 1st Varsity 4+ that came in third at the Oak Ridge Regional.
Mater Purissima: Member of rowing team from 2005-2007…three-time National
Champion in the Junior 1x and Under 23 1x.
Peru National Rowing Team: Participated in 2008 South American Rowing
Championships (bronze medal in women’s 2x)…participated in 2009 Junior
World Rowing Championships (25th place in women’s 1x)…participated in 2010
South American Rowing Championships (bronze medal in women’s 2x).
Personal: Member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2012…born November 8,
1991…majoring in visual arts.

2011-12: Rowed the three seat in the 3rd Varsity 8+ that
finished first at the UVA Invitational
Spartanburg High School: Earned three varsity letters in
swimming.
Personal: Member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in
2012…brother, David, was a member of the Clemson baseball team from 2008-2012…born August 30,
1992…majoring in biological sciences and philosophy.

Danielle Hayden

Sophomore • Severna Park, MD • Severna Park HS • Biological Sciences

2011-12: Coxed the 1st Novice 8+ in seven regattas…
coxed the 2nd Novice 8+ in two regattas…coxed the 1st
Novice 8+ to a pair of first-place finishes…
Severna Park High School: earned three varsity letters in
lacrosse, four in indoor track and four in cross country…
member of state championship lacrosse team (2009 &
2011)…district champions (2010-11)…cross country
state champions (2007 & 2009)…cross country county champions (2007-2009)…second in the region and
ninth in the state in 55m indoor hurdles.

14

Clemson Rowing

Personal: Member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2012…born July 24,
1993…majoring in biological sciences.

2013 CLEMSON ROWING

Veteran Bios

Kelsey Igo

Sophomore • Frederick, MD • Gov. Thomas Johnson HS • Health Science

2011-12: Rowed in the bow seat in the 3rd Varsity 8+
that finished first in the UVA Invitational…missed the
majority of the season due to an elbow injury…earned
the team’s Tiger Pride award.
2010-11: Rowed with the 1st Novice 8+ in four regattas…rowed with the 3rd Varsity 8+ in two regattas…
rowed the bow seat of the 1st Novice 8+ that finished
third at the ACC Championships…rowed the bow seat of
the 3rd Varsity 8+ that came in second at the Oak Ridge

MJ Keys

Regional.
Gov. Thomas Johnson High School: Earned a combined twelve varsity letters in
cross country and indoor/outdoor track and field…helped team earn second place
in the 2009 Cross Country State Championship, coming in 20th place overall…
competed in the distance medley relay in Nike Indoor Nationals in 2010 (12th
place) and in New Balance Outdoor Nationals…won fourth place in state championship outdoor track and field meet in pole vault in 2010.
Personal: Two-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll…born January 26,
1992…majoring in health science.

2011-12: Started the season with the 2nd Varsity 8+…
joined the 1st Varsity 4+ for two regattas…finished the
season with the 2nd Varsity 4+…had one first-place finish each with the 2nd Varsity 8+ (vs. Northeastern) and
1st Varsity 4+ (vs. Kansas)…rowed in five different seats
throughout the season.
Christchurch Girls’ High School: 2010 - sprint regatta
(500m) coxed four champions...South Island Club Sprint
Regatta gold medal (open women 4)...South Island Secondary School Championships gold medal (U18 four and
U18 Quad) and silver medal (U18 Pair and U18 Double)...South Island Club
Championships gold medal (open women 4, quad and double)...Maadi Cup Secondary Schools Nationals (Bronze U18 Pair)...2009 - South Island Championships - second place (U17 double), first place (U17 Four and Quad)...South
Island Club Championships - first place (club women double and four)...Maadi
Cup Secondary School Nationals (second place U17 double)...South Island Rep-

Sarah Koering

resentative team - 1st in U18 pair and 1st in U18 eight...ran cross country and
track...1st place cross country 2010...1st place 3km track 2010...1st place 1
km track 2010...2nd place 3km cross country 2010...second place South Island
Secondary Schools 3km cross country...Christchurch SBS Half Marathon U21
grade third place....1st place in the Blenheim Cycling tour 2010 (U19 Criterium, Road Race, Hill Climb Time Trial)...3rd place Blenheim Cycling tour 2010,
overall general classification...5th place in the Tour De Lakes 2011 Queenstown
GC...Stage 4 (Gelnorchy) second place...fourth place Grape Ride Elite Road Race
2011...Canterbury Schools Duathlon Championships 2010 (U19 first place)...
Duathlon National Championships 2010 (U19 first place).
Personal: Born November 27, 1992...has a twin brother who rowed for
Christchurch Boys’ High School and is now an assistant coach at the school...
also has twin older brothers, Josh played NPC rugby for the Hawkes Bay Magpies
in New Zealand and is currently playing in Germany, and Ben, a New Zealand
representative at Kayaking and also competes in Surf Lifesaving...majoring in
economics.

Sophomore • Vineland, NJ • Vineland HS • Engineering

2011-12: Coxed the 1st Novice 4+ in five regattas…
coxed the 1st Novice 4+ to three second-place finishes
all coming at Virginia.
Vineland High School: Earned two varsity letters in field
hockey and two in crew…2011 Cape Atlantic League
Honorable Mention and 2011 Unsung Hero Award.
Personal: Born July 3, 1993…majoring in engineering.

Jackie Kovach

2011-12: Named a CRCA National Scholar-Athlete...
coxed the 2nd Varsity 4+ in five regattas while coxing the
3rd Varsity 4+ in one regatta…coxed the 2nd Varsity 4+
to a first-place finish over Indiana…never finished lower
than third in a race all season.
2010-11: Earned the Most Improved Rower award…
coxed four different crews throughout the season…coxed
the 4th Varsity 8+ that defeated #12 Michigan and #7
Ohio State at the ACC/Big Ten challenge…coxed the 2nd

Giulia Longatti

Junior • Wyomissing, PA • Wyomissing Area • Engineering
Varsity 4+ that defeated #8 Michigan State…coxed the 2nd Varsity 4+ that came
in second at the Oak Ridge Regional.
Wyomissing Area: Earned four varsity letters in football cheerleading, basketball
cheerleading and track & field.
Personal: Two-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll…father, Michael,
played football at Colgate University…born December 10, 1991…majoring in
materials science and engineering.

Sophomore • Como, Italy • Political Science

2011-12: Named CRCA second-team All-South Region…
Academic All-ACC selection…rowed with the 2nd Varsity
8+ in the first two regattas...spent the final six regattas
with the 1st Varsity 8+ as a freshman…rowed the bow
seat in the 1st Varsity 8+ that finished second at the
ACC Championships…part of the 1st Varsity 8+ that recorded a time of 6:26.08 against Kansas, 10th best time
in school history…named ACC Crew-of-the-Week for that
performance.
Italian National Team: 2011 bow seat of the lightweight
quad...raced in Amsterdam at the U23 World Rowing Championships...finished
fourth in the Grand Final...2010 - rowed in the lightweight Italian national team
at the U23 World Rowing Championships in the Czech Republic...was the reserve of the lightweight 4x that won the gold medal...raced in the double with
Federica Menegatti...got sixth place in the final...2009 - rowed in the World
Rowing Junior Championships in Brive la Gaillarde, France...rowed the bow seat
in the quad and finished 15th.
Personal: Member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2012…majoring in political science.

2011-12: Rowed with the 2nd Varsity 8+ the entire
season…rowed the six seat in the 2nd Varsity 8+ that
finished second in the ACC Championships…rowed the
three seat in the 2nd Varsity 8+ in both of their first-place
finishes over Northeastern and Kansas…part of the 2nd
Varsity 8+ that recorded a time of 6:39.59 against Kansas, eight best 2V8 time in school history.
2010-11: Rowed with four different crews during the season…spent five regattas with the 2nd Varsity 8+…rowed
the four seat for the 2nd Varsity 8+ that defeated #12
Michigan at the ACC/Big Ten challenge…rowed the four seat for the 2nd Varsity
8+ that came in second at the ACC Championships…rowed the four seat for the
2nd Varsity 8+ that came in second at the Oak Ridge Regional…rowed the four
seat for the 2nd Varsity 8+ that finished 15th at the NCAA Championships.
2009-10: Rowed with the 1st Novice 8+ in five regattas while rowing with the
2nd Varsity 8+ in two…started the season with six straight first-place finishes…
rowed in the six seat of the 1st Novice 8+ in wins over Michigan and Ohio State

Emily Massey

Senior • Quincy, FL • Maclay HS • Communication Studies

2011-12: Coxed the 2nd Varsity 8+ for the entire season…coxed the 2nd Varsity 8+ that finished second in
the ACC Championships…coxed the 2nd Varsity 8+ in
both of their first-place finishes over Northeastern and
Kansas…part of the 2nd Varsity 8+ that recorded a time
of 6:39.59 against Kansas, eighth best 2V8 time in
school history.
2010-11: Coxed the 2nd Varsity 8+ for the entire season…coxed the 2nd Varsity 8+ that defeated #12 Michigan at the ACC/Big Ten challenge…coxed the 2V8 that
came in second at the ACC Championships…coxed the 2nd Varsity 8+ that came
in second at the Oak Ridge Regional…coxed the 2nd Varsity 8+ that finished
15th at the NCAA Championships.

Sarah Monn

Cristina Morcom

(2008-2011), soccer conference champions (2011)…all-state recipient twice,
all-region three times and all-conference four times.
Personal: Born February 8, 1993…majoring in nursing.

Sophomore • Oakland, NJ • Indian Hills HS • Communication Studies

2011-12: Rowed with the 1st Novice 4+ in five regattas
as a freshman…spent one regatta with the 1st Novice
8+…rowed in three different seats during the season…
Indian Hills High School: Earned three varsity letters in
volleyball, two in basketball, and one in softball…Immaculate Heart Academy Tournament of Champions volleyball champions…Immaculate Heart Academy volleyball
state champions in 2008.

Clemson Rowing

rowed the bow seat of the 1st Varsity 4+ that came in third at the Oak Ridge
Regional…rowed the bow seat of the 1st Varsity 4+ that finished 15th at the
NCAA Championships.
2009-10: Rowed with the 1st Novice 8+ in five regattas…started the season
with six straight first-places finishes…rowed in bow seat of Novice 8+ in wins
over Michigan and Ohio State at ACC/Big 10 Challenge...rowed the bow in the
Novice 8+ boat that finished second at the ACC Championships.
Montgomery High School: Earned one varsity letter in rowing.
Personal: Member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2011…born March 3,
1991…majoring in French modern language.

Sophomore • Whispering Pines, NC • Union Pines HS • Nursing

2011-12: Rowed with the 1st Novice 8+ the entire
season…rowed in three different seats during the three
straight first-place finishes by the 1st Novice 8+…rowed
the three seat in the 1st Novice 8+ that finished second
at the ACC Championships.
Union Pines High School: Earned four varsity letters in
soccer and four in basketball…basketball team reached
state final four in 2011, team is in hall of fame at Union
Pines High School…basketball conference champions

16

2009-10: Coxed the 1st Novice 8+ in five regattas and the 2nd Varsity 8+ in
two…coxed the Novice 8+ boat to wins over Michigan and Ohio State at ACC/
Big 10 Challenge...coxed the 1st Novice 8+ that finished second at the ACC
Championships...coxed the 2nd Varsity 8+ to a fifth-place finish at the South/
Central Sprints...coxed the 2nd Varsity 8+ to a 16th place finish at the NCAA
Championships.
Maclay High School: Earned two varsity letters in rowing...helped lead Men’s
Heavyweight 8+ crew to Southeast regional championship and a second place
finish at the state championship...finished 10th at the Head of the Charles with
the men’s varisty 8+ in 2008...placed sixth in the heavyweight varsity 8+ at the
Cincinnati youth nationals.
Personal: Born November 29, 1990...majoring in communication studies.

Senior • Skillman, NJ • Montgomery HS • French Modern Language

2011-12: Spent five regattas with the 2nd Varsity 8+,
two with the 1st Varsity 4+ and one with the 2nd Varsity
4+…rowed the two seat in two first-place finishes with
the 1st Varsity 4+…rowed the four seat with the 2nd Varsity 8+ that finished with a time of 6.39.59, eighth best
2V8 time in school history.
2010-11: Rowed with the 1st Varsity 4+ in seven regattas…rowed the bow seat of the 1st Varsity 4+ that
defeated #18 Texas…rowed the bow seat of the 1st Varsity 4 that came in second at the ACC Championships…

Kerianne Pacheco

at ACC/Big 10 Challenge...rowed in the four seat of the 1st Novice 8+ that
finished second at the ACC Championships...rowed in the four seat of the 2nd
Varsity 8+ that finished fifth at the South/Central Sprints...rowed in the four seat
of the 2nd Varsity 8+ that finished 16th at the NCAA Championships.
Clearview Regional High School: Earned three varsity letters in soccer, basketball
and lacrosse...captain of the soccer team in 2008...earned the sportsmanship
award for soccer in 2007...helped lead soccer team to Tri-County Royal Conference Championships in 2007 and 2008...captain of the basketball team for
the 2008-09 season...earned the award for most assists in basketball for the
2007-08 season...won the Don Bills award in 2009...helped lead basketball
team to a share of the conference championship for the 2008-09 season...team
tied the school record for most wins the same season...named the most improved
lacrosse player for the 2006 season...named second team all-conference in
2007 and first-team all-conference in 2008...named an academic All-American
in 2008.
Personal: Three-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll…majoring in
mathematics teaching.

Personal: Member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2012…born May 30,
1993…majoring in communication studies.

2013 CLEMSON ROWING

Veteran Bios

Carissa Richardson

Sophomore • St. Catherine’s, Ontario • Biological Sciences

2011-12: Coxed the 1st Varsity 4+ that finished first
at the ACC Championships to take home the 1V4 ACC
Championship....coxed the 1st Varsity 4+ for the entire
season…coxswain for the 1st Varsity 4+ that totaled a
team-high six first-place finishes…coxed the 1V4 to four
straight first-place finishes to start the season.
St. Francis Catholic Secondary School: Royal Canadian
Henley gold winner in 2009 in the Junior B Men’s 4+…
competitor at the Head of the Charles Regatta in 2009

2011-12: Named a CRCA National Scholar-Athlete…
rowed with the 2nd Varsity 4+ for six regattas…rowed
the three seat for the 2V4 in their first-place finish over
Indiana…part of the 2nd Varsity 4+ that never finished
lower than third.
2010-11: Rowed in six regattas, including four with the
1st Novice 8+…rowed the three seat for the 1st Novice
8+ that came in third at the ACC Championships…rowed
the five seat for the 3rd Varsity 8+ that came in second

Meghan Sisk

Caroline Thomas

Personal: Born September 1, 1990…majoring in psychology.

Senior • Cheraw, SC • Phillips Exeter Academy • Genetics

2011-12: Rowed with the 3rd Varsity 4+ in four regattas…also spent one regatta each with the 3rd Varsity 8+
and 2nd Varsity 4+…rowed the seven seat in the 3rd Varsity 8+ that finished first at the UVA Invitational.
2010-11: Rowed in five regattas, including four with the
1st Novice 8+…rowed the four seat of the 1st Novice 8+
that came in third at the ACC Championships.

Phillips Exeter Academy: Member of the crew team that won the NEIRAS points
trophy in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Personal: Member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2012…father played football at Wofford College…grandfather, J.R. Thomas, graduated from Clemson in
1927…born February 15, 1991…majoring in genetics.

Junior • The Woodlands, TX • The Woodlands Prep School • Psychology

2011-12: Rowed in three regattas with the 2nd Varsity
4+…rowed with the 3rd Varsity 8+ and 3rd Varsity 4+
in one regatta each…recorded one first-place finish each
with the 2nd Varsity 4+ and 3rd Varsity 8+.
2010-11: Rowed in three regattas with three different
crews…rowed the three seat of the Novice 4 that defeated Charleston (WV)…rowed the bow seat for the 2nd
Varsity 4+ (B) that defeated Purdue and the 2nd Varsity
4+ (C).

Aurelia Wurzel

at the Oak Ridge Regional.
Walkersville High School: Earned three varsity letters in track & field and one in
cross country…is the school record holder in the relay high jump, the relay triple
jump and the relay discus.
Personal: Two-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll…born June 03,
1992…majoring in animal and veterinary sciences.

2011-12: Coxed the 2nd Varsity 4+, 3rd Varsity 4+ and
3rd Varsity 8+ in one regatta each…coxed the secondplace 3rd Varsity 8+ at the UVA Invitational.
2010-11: Coxed the 4th Varsity 4+ to a 16th place finish in the Championship 4+ division of the Head of the
Hooch during the fall season…coxed the 2nd Varsity 4
(C) that defeated Purdue.
St. Margaret’s School for Girls: Coxed the women’s varsity
4+ in 2009.

Kathryn Wiley

and 2010 in the Youth Men’s and Women’s 8+…bronze at Canadian National’s
in 2010 in the lightweight Men’s 4+ and silver in lightweight women’s 4+ in
2011…raced for Canada and earned silver at CanAmMex regatta in summer of
2011…raced Stotesbury Regatta in the heavy men’s 8+ and Junior A women’s
4+ and 8+.
Personal: Member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2012…born February 17,
1993…majoring in language and international trade.

The Woodlands Preparatory School: Earned two varsity letters in swimming and
two in basketball...placed 2nd at the 2010 TAPPS (Texas Association of Parochial and Private Schools) State Swim Meet in the 100 Free and placed 4th
in the 500 free...2010 Academic All State selection for swimming and earned
2010 District Honorable Mention in basketball.
Personal: Two-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll…born February 3,
1992…majoring in psychology.

2011-12: Spent the entire season with the 2nd Varsity
8+ as a freshman…rowed the four seat in the 2V8 that
finished second at the ACC Championships…rowed the
five seat with the 2nd Varsity 8+ that finished with a
time of 6.39.59 against Kansas, eighth best 2V8 time
in school history.
Personal: Italian champion twice in Women’s 8+, twice in
LW 4+, and one time in women’s 4x…born December 25,
1991…majoring in international management.

Lake Hartwell Facts:
Was built from 1955-1963 by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Comprised of 56,000 acres of water with a shoreline of 962 miles
Stretches across the border between South Carolina and Georgia
Has been the host site of 10 of the 13 ACC Rowing Championships

Lucy Doolittle
1999-2002
Lucy Doolittle, a native of Mauldin, SC, is a
two time All-American and holds the distinction of being Clemson’s first rower to earn
All-American honors in 2001. She was also
named to the 50th Anniversary All-ACC team
on August 29, 2002. Rowing in the Varsity 8+
boat from 2000-2002, Doolittle earned three CRCA All-South
Region honors becoming Tiger rowing’s first All-Region honoree
in 2000. In addition she was selected twice to the All-ACC team
and was a member of the 2001 ACC Crew of the Year. During the
2001 season she participated in the National Team Identification
Camp hosted by Princeton University. In 2001 she received the
team’s Most Inspirational Varsity Award along with two other rowers. Doolittle received Clemson’s Most Improved Varstiy Rower
Award in 2000 and is a four-time member of the ACC Academic
Honor Roll. She also rowed in Clemson’s undefeated Novice 8+
in 1999. Doolittle was the first Tiger rower to be inducted into
the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.

Megan McGuirt
1999-2002
The President’s Commission on the Status of
Women at Clemson University selected Clemson rower Megan McGuirt as the recipient of
the 2002 Outstanding Woman Award in the
Undergraduate Student category. McGuirt was
also named Clemson rowing’s first National
Strength and Conditioning Association All-American during the
2002 season. She was the co-captain for the 2002 season. During the 2000-01 season McGuirt rowed in the Varsity 8+. She
was a member of the 2001 Atlantic Coast Conference Crew of the
Year, as well as being named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll.
McGuirt was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board,
the NCAA Women’s Sports Committee, the ACC Committee for
Student-Athlete Welfare and the NCAA Committee for Women’s
Athletics.

Aimee Fox
1999-2002
Aimee Fox received first-team All-American
honors for the first time in 2002. Along with
Doolittle, Fox was also named to the 50th Anniversary All-ACC team made up of 26 current
and former ACC rowers. As a member of the
Varsity eight boat, Fox earned two consecutive
CRCA All-South Regions honors. The Westbrook, ME native was
selected twice to the All-ACC team and was a member of the
ACC Crew of the Year in 2001. She was voted Most Inspirational
Varsity in 2001 along with two teammates. Her senior season
she was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll. Fox rowed in
Clemson’s undefeated Novice 8+ in 1999.
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Clemson Rowing

Brown, Doolittle, Fox, Kuivila and McGuirt all were members of the 2002
Clemson Rowing team.

Emily Kuivila
2000-2003
Emily Kuivila, a native of Dublin, OH, was a
two-time CRCA All Region Section as well as
a two-time CRCA National Scholar Athlete.
In 2003 she receive the Edwards/Shingler
Sportsmanship Award. Her final season as
the Varsity 8+ coxswain Kuivila was named
to the 2003 All-ACC team and received the Athletic Director
Academic Excellence Award. She was the team captain for the
2003-03 season and coxed the Second Varsity 8+ to a South
Region Championship in 2001. Kuivila was also named to the
ACC-Academic Honor Roll for 2000-03. She was named the Most
Improved Varsity rower in 2002.

Ashlee Brown
2002-2005
Ashlee Brown became the third Clemson
rower to earn All-America honors when she
was named a second-team selection by the
CRCA (Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association). As a senior in 2005, Brown garnered
every imaginable honor as a student-athlete.
She was named a CRCA National Scholar Athlete after posting a
cumulative GPA of over 3.75 in animal and veterinary sciences.
It marked the second consecutive spring in which Brown was
named a National Scholar Athlete. Brown also was a first-team
All-South Region and first-team All-ACC selection as a senior in
2005.

Former Rowing Greats

2013 CLEMSON ROWING

Sarah Cooper
2004-2007
Sarah Cooper concluded her Clemson career
as one of the school’s most decorated rowers. She earned a pair of All-America honors, only the second rower in school history to
earn such recognition. She was a first-team
selection as a junior and second-team choice
in 2007 as a senior. Cooper was also a two-time All-Region performer, one of only five student-athletes in school history to earn
multiple All-Region selections. She was a three-time All-ACC
rower, most by any rower in the program’s history. As a senior,
she led the Tigers to a second-place ACC finish and fifth-place
spot in the South Region. She was part of the Tigers’ Varsity
8+ that earned two ACC Crew of the Week honors in 2007. She
also guided the first varsity 8+ to a national ranking of #12 following a win over Michigan, Michigan State, and Notre Dame.
It marked the highest ranking ever for the program. Due to her
collegiate success, she earned an invitation to the Princeton 4camp to compete for a spot on the women’s four that represented the US at the 2007 FISA World Championships. In 2012,
Cooper was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame.

Leidecker (left) and Van Fleet (right) were teammates from 2006-2008.

Suzanne Van Fleet
2005-2008
Perhaps Suzanne Van Fleet’s greatest accomplishment was leading the Varsity 8+ crew to
the NCAA Championships for the first time
in school history, but she garnered many personal honors along the way. She became just
the fourth rower from Clemson to be named a
first team All-American by the CRCA. In addition, she was twice
named to the All-ACC team and was a first team All-Region
selection in her senior season. She served as team captain for
the 2007-08 season, and was also named Clemson’s Rower of
the Year as a senior. Van Fleet’s success extended beyond the
water, as she made the All-ACC Academic team and was named
a National Scholar Athlete three times for her outstanding
academic performance. Van Fleet was not only successful for
Clemson, but for the United States as well. She represented the
US twice at the U23 World Rowing Championships, winning a
bronze medal in 2007 and a gold in 2008 with the Women’s 8+.

Sarah Cooper was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.

Jessica Leidecker
2006-2009
Leidecker is just the third Tiger rower to earn
All-America honors two times during her career. As a junior in 2008, she was named
to the second-team, and garnered first-team
All-America honors as a senior. She was also
a first-team All-Region selection twice and a
two-time All-ACC selection. As a junior, Leidecker was a member of the Varsity 8+crew that advanced to the NCAA Rowing
Championships for the first time in school history and earned
many accomplishments throughout the season. She stroked the
Varsity 8+ to an ACC Championship and ACC Crew of the Year
honors as a senior. Leidecker was also a member of Clemson’s
first ACC Championship team in program history. The same
year, Clemson advanced to the NCAA Rowing Championships
for the first time as a team and finished 12th overall at the regatta. Her Varsity 8+ crew finished the season ranked #12 in
the USRowing/CRCA poll, which is the highest final ranking to
date. Leidecker found success with USRowing as well, twice
competing in the U23 World Rowing Championships during her
Clemson career. She finished in fourth place with the Women’s
4- in 2008 and earned a silver medal with the Women’s 8+ in
2009. She is now an assistant coach for the Tigers.

Jessica Leidecker was named an assistant coach in 2010 following her career
as a rower for the Tigers from 2006-2009.

ClemsonTigers.com

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2013 CLEMSON ROWING

Rowing 101

Rowing Glossary

Race Watching

Blade: the end of the oar which pulls the boat through the water.
Bow: the forward end of the boat which crosses the ﬁnish line ﬁrst; the
rower in the seat nearest the forward end of a shell, who typically has
a quick catch, stable technique and a shorter arc.
Button: A wide collar on the oar that keeps it from slipping through the oarlock.
Coxswain (Cox): the person who sits in the stern of the boat and is responsible for
steering and commanding the crew. During a race, the coxswain will be steering,
calling strategic moves and giving motivational cues.
Ergometer (erg): a rowing machine that closely approximates the actual rowing
motion.
Lightweight: a crew on which each athlete weighs under a speciﬁc amount (130
pounds for women).
Novice: a rower in the ﬁrst year of collegiate competition.
Port: Left side of the boat, while facing forward, in the direction of the movement.
Racing Categories: There are several boats that race in either the varsity or novice
categories. The different categories are called varsity eight, novice eight, etc.,
a practice similiar to first, second and third string groups in other sports. For
example, the “second novice eight” race refers to the “second string” novices
from competing teams racing each other.
Regatta: the name of rowing events in which several crews compete.
Repechage: a second chance race for those crews which did not
automatically advance to the ﬁnals of an event.
Rigger: the triangular shaped device that is bolted onto the side of the boat,
used for holding the oars.
Run: the distance the shell moves during one stroke.
Sculling: type of rowing where each rower uses two oars.
Shell: boat used in the rowing races. It seats nine people for an Eight and ﬁve
people for a Four, and ranges in length from 45 feet for a Four
to 58 feet for an Eight.
Starboard: Right side of the boat, while facing forward, in the direction of the
movement.
Stern: the back of the boat; the end the rowers face during competitions.
Stretcher or Footstretcher: Where the rower’s feet go. The stretcher consists of
two inclined footrests that hold the rower’s shoes. The rower’s shoes are bolted
into the footrests.
Stroke: a complete cycle of moving the shell through the water; the
rower who sits closest to the stern, looks directly at the coxswain in a
stern-coxed boat and sets the rhythm for the shell.
Sweeping: type of rowing where each rower uses one oar.
Varsity: the collegiate rower who competes beyond the novice level.
8+ and 4+: eights (8+) and fours (4+) are the most common collegiate
competitions and the two events held at the NCAA Championships. The
plus indicates a coxswain on board.

The crew that’s making it look easy is most likely the one doing the best job.
While you’re watching, look for –
Continuous, fluid motion of the rowers. The rowing motion shouldn’t have
a discernible end or beginning.
Synchronization. Rowers strive for perfect synchronization in the boat.
Clean catches of the oarblade. If you see a lot of splash, the oarblades
aren’t entering the water correctly. The catch should happen at the end of the
recovery, when the hands are as far ahead of the rower as possible. Rowers who
uncoil before they drop the oarblades are sacrificing speed and not getting a
complete drive.
Even oarblade feathering. When the blades are brought out of the water,
they should all move horizontally close to the water and at the same height. It’s
not easy, especially if the water is rough.
The most consistent speed. Shells don’t move like a car – they’re slowest
at the catch, quickest at the release. The good crews time the catch at just the
right moment to maintain the speed of the shell.
Rowing looks graceful, elegant and sometimes effortless when it’s done
well. Don’t be fooled. Rowers haven’t been called the world’s most physically-fit
athletes for nothing. A 2,000-meter rowing race demands virtually everything a
human being can physically bring to an athletic competition – aerobic ability,
technical talent, exceptional mental discipline, ability to utilize oxygen efficiently and in huge amounts, balance, pain tolerance, and the ability to continue to
work when the body is demanding that you stop.
Race times can vary considerably depending upon the course and weather
conditions. Tailwinds will improve times, while headwinds and crosswinds will
hamper them.
If a crew “catches a crab,” it means the oarblade has entered the water at
an angle instead of perpendicularly. The oarblade gets caught under the surface
and will slow or even stop a shell.
A “Power 10” is a call by the coxswain for 10 of the crew’s best, most powerful strokes. Good coxswains read the course to know how many strokes remain
for their crew to count down to the finish.
Crews are identified by their oarblade design. Clemson’s oarblades are
white with an orange tiger paw.
Coxswains from first-place boats worldwide are thrown into the water by their
crews.
Coxswains don’t now and probably never did yell “stroke! stroke!” Similar
to a jockey, their job is to implement the coach’s strategy during the race, in addition to steering and letting the rowers know where they stand in the race and
what they need to do to win.
Remember that everything, especially technique, becomes more and more
difficult to maintain as the race progresses. Assuming you are watching near the
finish, you will have a much easier time separating excellent from the mediocre,
simply becase rowers who appear textbook at the start, may looking anything
buy fluid at the finish.

Types of Races
Head Races
Head races are the traditional fall regattas, in which
boats are started seperately at 10 second intervals. The
course usually involves navigating three miles of river, around
bends and under bridges. The winner is the crew that had the
shortest elapsed time between the start and finish lines, with
any additional time included for penalties.
Sprint Races
National, world, and Olympic competitions are 2,000
meters, or approximately 1.25 miles. Most courses are divided into six buoyed lanes, allowing six boats to participate
at any one time. This racing utilizes a double-elimination system, which allows each participant at least two opportunities
to row.
Heats are held first. Depending on the number of entires,
one to three crews will advance to a semifinal. Everybody else
goes to a repechage heat (repechage is French for “another
chance”). Those who advance from heats and the repechages
go to the semifinals, then an equal number from the semis
proceed to the finals.